07/15/2009

First Multi-Speed American Bicycle Discovered

PRESS RELEASE

First Multi-Speed American Bicycle Discovered

A lone surviving copy of a bicycle from another era, a chainless
3-speed relic manufactured in early 1900, has been recovered and is
being restored; called "The Hill-Climber," it was the first multi-speed
bicycle to be produced in America

SEATTLE, July 15 /PRNewswire/ -- A bicycle believed to be the first
production model in America to employ multiple-speed gear ratios has
been found and is being restored to original condition. When found,
only the patented gear-changing mechanism was still attached to the
rusty frame. A nationwide search for replacement parts and information
about the company that produced it has been undertaken.

Before this discovery, the first-known production multi-speed
bicycle was marketed under the Columbia brand in 1903. It featured a
two-speed "kickback" hub, and was also a chainless bicycle. The story
of "The Hill-Climber" has recently been published in a book titled
"Restoration." It is available on the Amazon-affiliate website
Createspace at https://www.createspace.com/3382245

The inventor of this 3-speed bicycle, Peter J. Scharbach, called it
"The Hill-Climber." It was originally produced by Scharbach/Hoerth and
Company in San Francisco in 1902. Research shows that the company also
tried to produce an early automobile. It is not known how many of these
bicycles were sold during its production years from 1902-1904.
Chainless bicycles are manufactured today by a few companies, but the
product form is not widely known to bicyclists.

The surviving Hill-Climber, a frame with a shaft-drive (like an
automobile) instead of a chain, has three bevel gears at the rear
wheel, and shift linkage to change speed ratios. It was stored in the
basement of a retired dairy farmer outside of Pe Ell, WA, after
spending most of its life on his farm junk pile. His father, John K.
Muller, and many residents of the area invested in a manufacturing
company formed with the inventor in late 1903. Assembly operations were
moved from San Francisco to Chicago in early 1904. Mysteriously, all
their investment was gone by the end of the year, and the company
folded.

A descendant of the inventor was found living in Arizona. His
great-grandfather was a blacksmith, inventor and entrepreneur whose
patent for the chainless bicycle is still being referenced today.
Remnants of the bicycle business are a few surviving photographs taken
at a product roll-out event in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, c.1902.
An advertising flyer, and other surviving documentation, was found in
the possession of relatives of John K. Muller.

The bicycle is scheduled to be on display at the 32nd Annual LeMay
Auto Collection show August 29, 2009, near Tacoma, WA. For details go
to http://www.lemaymuseum.org/